Healthy Carpets for Healthy Homes

The benefits of carpet go beyond plush underfoot comfort and adding a warm feeling to a room. Carpeting also provides many health and safety advantages, such as trapping dust, pollen, and other potentially dangerous particles, preventing them from escaping into the air and being inhaled. In addition, properly maintained and clean carpet acts as an air filter to improve indoor air quality in the homes of people with respiratory conditions like asthma.


Dirty carpets can actually promote the growth of unhealthy bacteria such as mold, mildew and dust mites which release spores that can trigger skin irritation and breathing issues such as bronchitis or even pneumonia. The good news is that keeping your carpets clean will minimize the potential for these fungi to grow as they thrive in dark, moist environments where they are often found.

When choosing non toxic carpet, look for Healthy Carpets a green label or a GREENGUARD certification to be sure your carpet is free of toxins. This will help ensure that your carpet is free of flame retardants, water and stain repellents (like Stainmaster or Scotchgard) that contain perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs, which are linked to health concerns like hormone disruption, pregnancy-related problems, and cancer.

If possible, opt for natural fibers like jute, seagrass or sisal. These are biodegradable and typically have neutral colors that will mask dirt better than a traditional nylon carpet. They are also very durable and can be quite inexpensive. If you need a little extra protection, choose a low pile option or a carpet that is braided as these will tend to show wear and tear less than conventional high pile carpets.

Other things to watch out for are the chemicals used to treat your carpets, such as antimicrobials (like triclosan), mothproofing agents (like methyl bromide), and the flame retardants that are added to almost all conventional carpet. Also watch out for the carpet pad, which is typically made of foam scraps and bound together with adhesives that can off gas VOCs. In particular, try to find a carpet that is free of styrene butadien rubber, which offgasses styrene and butadiene, both of which are respiratory irritants. Another issue with most carpet padding is that it can offgas formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen and may react with other chemicals to form a compound called 4-PCH which has been linked to cancer, nerve damage, rashes, and eye irritation. Choose a padding that is free of these toxins or use foam block underlay instead.

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What are the benefits of having the heating system on?

There are many means to boost your home’s performance, and one of the most effective is by mounting an efficient furnace. Changing your old, ineffective furnace or air conditioner with a new high-efficiency design can minimize your power consumption substantially, saving you cash and helping the environment.

Performance is the proportion of the helpful thermal power created by an unit of energy to the electric power taken in to produce it. Cooling and heating systems have different levels of efficiency, and the higher the ranking, the more reliable they are. Effectiveness scores are based on devices, setup and use, in addition to other factors.

When buying an energy-efficient heating and cooling efficiency heating & cooling system, look for power CELEBRITY ® qualification. This mark implies that the system satisfies EPA standards for energy efficiency, and is a lot more environmentally friendly than other non-certified designs. However, also a newly set up system that has the power STAR label may not be as reliable as a design that was properly mounted by a licensed technician.

The main benefit of an energy-efficient heating and cooling system is that it utilizes much less power, which decreases your monthly utility expenses. You will also find that these systems are quieter, and that your indoor area stays extra comfortable. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can manage your power usage while you’re away from your house, additional lowering your costs.

An additional vital factor to take into consideration an energy-efficient heater is that it saves natural resources and lowers the requirement for fossil fuels. These nonrenewable fuel sources are burned to produce the power made use of for space heating & cooling, and melting them generates greenhouse gasses that add to worldwide warming. By choosing a high-efficiency heating unit, you can help in reducing the demand for these fossil fuels and minimize your carbon footprint.

Along with the cost savings you’ll recognize on your power bill, an efficient heating unit will certainly add worth to your home. When it comes time to sell, your home will be more appealing to prospective customers, and you’ll make a profit on the sale because of the energy-saving benefits of your new system.

A brand-new high-efficiency heating system will certainly likewise help in reducing noise degrees in your home, as it uses a slower follower and operates at a lower speed. This is particularly visible if you have actually lately replaced an older, ineffective model.

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